Wichita eagle., 1887-09-21
THE SISTER OF CHARITY.

The suns rays beat down with scorching
ardor from the dark blue sky, but a rising
sea breeze refreshes the atmosphere impreg-
mated with fragrance waited from the orange
trees, growing in terraces along the hillsides
of Upper Mustapha.
At the head of the bay, where the waves
breaking monotonously On the sandy beach,
line the shore with asilvery crescent Of foam,
are laid out the drill grounds, toward which
a swelling crowd in cosmopolitan array are
vending their way. Skinny horses come gall
Looping down the hillside, dragging behind
them dusty corricolos Native soldiers file
by and form a line in front of the governor
generals tent, each tribe distinct and bearing
aloft the prophets banner, while the rude
Arab instruments fill the air with shrill music
Squadrons Of spahis in red, Of chasseurs in
blue, and hUssars in green uniforms debouch
in turn, and form living hedge around the
race course
The topmost tiers Of the public stand are
thrsnged with the prettiest women in the
colony, in the midst Of whom are q number
OF those mysteriously yelled Moorish ladies,
with heavy silver bracelets around their
ankles. All are animated by the noise made
by the firing Of guns, the beating Of tamtams,
and the cultural EXPLANATIONS Of the native
horsemen, riding around at full speed, making
the spectator feel dizzy as bis eye follows
them around the giddy curves of their fren-
zied course
The fantasia had ceased for a few minutes
to let the riders catch their breath, when the
groups open to make way for a proud ANA
zon, escorted by two distinguished looking
gentlemen-one gray haired, sporting the
rosette Of the Legion of Honor; the other
younger, bearing on his sunburnt features
all the marks that go to show great decision
of character. As they 60 by every head is
uncovered with respectful politeness.
=
Miss Genevieve S. at this time, just after
the coup d'etat, was regarded as the queen OF
Algiers. Actuated by a love of pleasure, she
was the leader at every ball in the governor
palace, and in every hunting party at Cape
Matifou she was always in the front rank,
surrounded by host of admirers. With q
complexion of milk and roses, hair slightly
tinged with gold and twisted into graceful
coil, an air Of pride heightened by a rare
perfection of form, her beauty was as radi-
ant in riding habit as in ball attire. She
captivated at first sight, and though a trife
naughty toward her equals, those beneath
her always found her more than kind.
Her father, one of the two horsemen follow
ing her, at the time filled an important post
In the colony. He was a widower. His wife,
lovely American girl from New Orleans,
had bequeathed to her daughter the graceful
manners and high spirits that characterize
the Creoles of that latitude. The other, the
determined looking person, who had pressed
his horse forward so as to be at her side, was
her alfianced husband, Mr.. Raoul de L,
one Of the richest colonists of the country,
who, after sowing his wild oats in Paris, had
come to the conquered country, in the guise
of hardy pioneer, to build up a fortune on
the ruins Of the one he had dissipated. Sue
cess had crowned his efforts, and, at that
time, he was the principal purveyor to the
army, and had the reputation Of being one Of
the few whose integrity was above reproach.
He had succeeded in winning the love Of Miss
Genevieye. The banns Had already been pub
lished, and the marriage ceremony, set for the
following week, was to take place in the
cathedral of Algiers.
There was a general movement in the
crowd. The greater part hurried to the road
of the Jarden d'essai, over which the coursers
were to pass. Miss Genevieve beckoned to
her two companions to follow, and the three
set off, at a slow pace, in order to avoid run
ming over those who were trudgiDg along
afoot As she passed, every eye gazed with
admiration upon the dashing amazon.
Vanity, the great feminine weakness, could
not allow Miss Genevieve to remain insensible
to the mute homage rendered on every side.
As she was riding along, a smile Of triumph
on her lips, she was thunderstruck on hearing
in pure French this exclamation:
"What pretty girl! What a divine mis-
treSs she would ber'
Stung to the quick by this brutal remark,
the young girl turned to the side whence it
had come. Raising her riding whip. she was
about to chastise the insolent person who had
uttered the words. but let it fall abruptly
without inflicting the intended blow, and
rode Off at gallop. Raoul, who had heard
and seen all, soon overlook her, and the riders
disappeared in cloud of dust raised by the
horses feet.
Algiers has assumed holiday appearance
The brilliantly colored lanterns. swinging
from every arch between Bab-Azoun and
Bab-el-Oued, illuminate the streets, making
them light as day. In the Government square
a military band is discoursing sweet music, a
grateful relief after the sing song Of the
muezzin, chanting to the four points Of the
compass from the roof of the grand mosque
At the right hand corner, facing the sea,
stands the Cafe de Ia Perle, where the better
class of citizens are accustomed to meet. Just
as the last notes of al Trovatoren are dying
away, Raoul appeared in the saloon. Casting
q searching look about the place, he walked
straight to a round table where three Arabs
were silently slipping an iced beverage.
Pardon me, lieutenant, said be, addressing
himself to one of the three, "was it not you
who said at the races while ago what q
pretty girl, what divine mistress she would
beg"
In reply to this question, put in a very low
tone of voice, one of the natives, an imposing
looking Arab, with turban on his head and
attired in the red spencer of an officer OF
spahis, the cross of the Legion Of Honor
sparkling on his breast, arose and said:
ayes, sir; it was l."
@Well, lieutenant, the woman you insulted
would have chastised you as you so well
merited had not the sight of that cross you
wear there checked her arm What she
would not do.I viii, because deem you un-
worthy of wearing that cross"
With these words Raoul snatched OFF the
emblem and threw it upon the table
The insult was too public for those around
to remain quiet. Everybody arose and
awaited in great agitation the answer Of the
spahi The Arab made no motion. For
awhile the two adversaries stood facing each
other in silence; then Raoul turned on his